It took 13 playoff games, but after defeating the San Antonio Spurs, the Memphis Grizzlies finally know what it’s like to taste some postseason success.

Memphis, in the playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history, had been swept in each of its previous three appearances.

The 12 consecutive playoff game losses before picking up a win is an NBA record.

With that out of the way, the Grizzlies can focus on chasing another piece of history. Memphis is looking to become the fourth No. 8 seed ever to defeat a No. 1 seed, and just second to do so since the first round expanded to a seven-game series.

The Grizzlies got off to a good start stealing Game 1 in San Antonio, becoming just the 10th No. 8 seed to win Game 1 of the first round.

They still have a long way to go as only two of those previous nine teams were able to translate that Game 1 win into a series victory.

The Grizzlies took the lead for good on a three-point field goal by Shane Battier. That was fitting since Battier is the only member of the current Grizzlies to have played in each of the teams’ previous 12 playoff games, during his first stint with the franchise.

It came shortly after the Spurs had used a 13-to-2 run to turn a seven-point Grizzlies lead into a four-point deficit.

During this stretch the Grizzlies missed four free throws, making it appear Memphis’ playoff futility would continue.

But in the final minute Memphis regained its composure ending the game on a 7-0 run.

Instead it was the Spurs playing without Manu Ginobili, their best fourth-quarter scorer during the regular season, who looked new to the playoffs.

So what exactly does this mean for the Spurs in 2011?

Not much – assuming Manu Ginobili is able to return healthy. This is a familiar position for San Antonio who has now lost the series opener in five of its last seven first round playoff series.

The Spurs have come back to win the series on three of those four occasions.

This loss just shows how important Ginobili is to the Spurs, especially against Memphis.

Game tape has shown with Ginobili in the lineup this season, the Spurs averaged 108.9 points per 48 minutes against the Grizzlies, and outscored Memphis by 26 points while he was on the floor.

Without him though, San Antonio shot under 40-percent from the floor, and was outscored by 39 points.

Throughout Ginobili’s career San Antonio is just 1-5 in the playoffs without him, so it is vitally important he return, and soon.

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Jefferson said the San Antonio Spurs want to finish with the NBA’s best record. Then someone told him how many more victories it could take to assure that.

“We got to win two more?” Jefferson said.

They’ll try, but the Spurs have other priorities.

Jefferson scored 20 points and the Spurs, mindful of the playoffs starting next weekend, won their fourth in a row while starting to rest some players in a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

San Antonio (61-19) has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and, with two games left, are 1 ½ games ahead of Chicago for the NBA’s best record. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all started and played more than 20 minutes while Antonio McDyess got the night off.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he’s “certainly not going to overplay anybody” with the playoffs starting next week but also doesn’t want to fall out of rhythm..

“We’ve played this well all season long we’d love to finish out atop the NBA,” said Duncan, who had 10 points. “We’re going to try to do the best of managing minutes and winning games and doing that all at the same time.”

Al Jefferson scored 23 points as the Jazz lost for the 10th time in 11 games, unable to pull a second upset this week after beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

That stunner Wednesday is what clinched the fifth No. 1 seed for the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs visit the Lakers on Tuesday, but with little at stake, the game hardly figures to be a potential Western Conference finals preview.

The Jazz, who won’t be in the playoffs for the first time in five years, just want to get through their season finale Wednesday.

Coach Tyrone Corbin had only 10 healthy players and guessed it might stay that way in their final two games. Derrick Favors scored 17 points and Paul Millsap added 16.

“We gotta finish this season with our head up high and have some pride for ourselves. We just ain’t going out here and lay down,” Al Jefferson said. “We’re going to play hard. I really thought we had a chance to win the game tonight. We just made too many mistakes.”

Ginobili had 12 points in 27 minutes and Parker had 13 in 29 minutes. Both played into the fourth when the Jazz crept within single digits.

Utah trailed by 11 at halftime but quickly fell behind in the third, when San Antonio stretched the lead to 17 while shooting 12 of 15 from the field.

Richard Jefferson put together his first 20-point game since November by shooting 6 of 10 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers. His most memorable play, however, came on an alley-oop dunk from Gary Neal moments after George Hill wowed the crowd with an impressive one-handed dunk over Earl Watson.

Who the Spurs will meet in the first round is still up in the air. Memphis held the No. 8 seed on Saturday but was a game behind New Orleans, which faces the Grizzlies on Sunday. Portland, currently holding the No. 6 spot, could also drop to the final slot.

“You take whoever comes,” Jefferson said.

Devin Harris added 13 points for Utah on just 3 of 11 shooting. He also took two tumbles into the front row, the second time into a young fan. A member of the Spurs’ training staff went over to check on the boy, who appeared to be OK.

Harris gave the boy a token of apology: his wristband.

• NOTES: Popovich needs three wins to reach 800 with the Spurs. … San Antonio swept the season series 3-0 over Utah. … The Spurs must win their final two games (Lakers, Phoenix) to match their franchise-record 63 wins set in 2005-06.

• Bucks 108, Cavaliers 101: At Milwaukee, Drew Gooden had his first career triple-double and John Salmons scored 32 points for Milwaukee.

Gooden had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bucks, hitting double-digits in all three stat categories in the middle of the third quarter.

Baron Davis scored 19 points and Ramon Sessions added 15 for the Cavaliers in a matchup between two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Although the game certainly didn’t mean anything in terms of the playoffs, Gooden — who missed a large chunk of the season due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot — showed the Bucks what he can do when he’s healthy.

• Rockets 99, Clippers 78: At Houston, Chase Budinger, Kevin Martin and Brad Miller scored 16 points apiece and Chuck Hayes had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead Houston.

Goran Dragic had 14 points, seven assists and a career-high 10 rebounds in his first start for the Rockets since he was acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline.

The Rockets played well one night after they were eliminated from playoff contention. They also played without injured starters Kyle Lowry (bone bruise in left foot) and Luis Scola (sore left knee).

Eric Gordon scored 19 points and Blake Griffin had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

• Wizards 115, Hawks 83: At Washington, Andray Blatche scored 23 points, John Wall had 19, and Washington dealt playoff-bound Atlanta its fourth straight loss.

The reeling Hawks, who are set to play Orlando in the first round, are heading into the postseason in less than ideal shape.

The Wizards broke a 12-game losing streak against Atlanta, have won four of six and are probably playing their best this season. They have just 10 healthy players — including five rookies and three who played in the NBA D-League this season.

Al Horford led the Hawks with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Joe Johnson had 16 as coach Larry Drew pulled his starters early in the fourth quarter.

• Nuggets 130, Timberwolves 106: At Denver, Ty Lawson made his first 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 37 points in leading the short-handed Denver Nuggets to a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lawson, who was banged up from Denver’s rough-and-tumble loss at Oklahoma City one night before, didn’t score until sinking a pair of free throws at the 6-minute mark of the second quarter.

He then hit 10-of-11 from beyond the arc, including six during a 9-minute stretch spanning halftime that turned a tight game (41-39) into a laugher.

Martell Webster and Lazar Hayward led the Timberwolves with 15 points each.

Minnesota was without injured All-Star Kevin Love (groin) and center Darko Milicic (left ankle) again.

The San Antonio Spurs took another step toward securing home-court advantage throughout the NBA postseason with a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz.

Having wrapped up the top seeding in the Western Conference, the Spurs are 1 1/2 games ahead of Eastern Conference leaders Chicago, with the Bulls having three games left to play.

San Antonio seized control of a close first half with a 15-2 run that straddled half-time, and held off a surge by the Jazz early in the fourth that saw the Spurs’ lead narrowed to 91-85.

Richard Jefferson, pictured, scored 20 points and Tony Parker had 13 as the Spurs’ starters saw limited action after opening up a large lead.

The Spurs bench provided 44 points, led by Tiago Splitter’s 13, as San Antonio cruised to their fourth win in a row.

Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 23 points.

REUTERS